DMan

Key Points:Attacker protect the puck by making tight turns and shielding it with the body. Defender maintain net side and stick on the puck.

Description:1. Coach dump the puck into the corner.2. Offensive player protect the puck for 5".3. Defensive player stay net side with stick on the puck.5. On the whistle attacker try to score.6. Alternate corners.

This is a video of a hockey school I ran for the college I coached at.

We divided the ice using rink pads. Most of the time we divided into 4 areas with 2 nets at each. Sometimes the pads were down the middle and it gave 2 full length areas. The video had Gaston teaching little kids skating using balls and pucks to get the feel of weight transfer. John C with game reading skills playing vs 2 nets at once. I teach some skills and have the instructors demo. This is sad to see because the little blonde instructor in the grey sweats was killed in a car accident last winter.

The idea is to teach a skill with demo and drills and then put the skill or team play concept into a skill game, game reading game or transition game situation.

There is a lot of room on the ice if the coaches use their imagination. There are 35-40 kid's on the ice in this video.

This is an 85 born team with Mason Raymond and Jeremy Colliton, who are in the NHL. Ryan Duncan who won the Hobey Baker is also one of the players. Aaron Lee is also still playing pro. All but one of these boy's played at least Jr. A. Many major jr. and many NCAA Div. 1.I get chocked up thinking about these kid's because of what happened after the last tournament we played in Vancouver. I started to go around the room and shake their hands to say goodbye and good luck. Instead of shaking hands the first boy got up and hugged me and my assistant coaches and then the whole team did the same thing. Great memory.

Key Points:New players don't leave the line-up until the puck enters the offensive zone.On dump outs no one change but go back and regroup with the same players. Changes occur when the puck is over the offensive blue line or controlled over the defensive blue line.

Description:1. Attack 2-1 with D getting support from 2 F's and F's from one D.2. Defending F1 support low to make it a 2-2 and F2 cover the point.3. New offensive D join and play point.4. On transition attack 2-1 thru nzone.5. Continue flow with new O and D support.

-Continue the flow of 2-1 in nzone and 3-3 at each end.-Dump-ins and regroups can be added.

Key Points:New players don't leave the line-up until the puck enters the offensive zone.On dump outs no one change but go back and regroup with the same players. Changes occur when the puck is over the offensive blue line or controlled over the defensive blue line.

Description:1. Attack 1-1 with D getting support from 1 F and F from one D.2. Defending F1 cover the point.3. New offensive D join and play point.4. On transition attack 1-1 thru nzone.5. Continue flow with new O and D support.

-Continue the flow of 1-1 in nzone and 2-2 at each end.-Dump-ins and regroups can be added.

Key Points:The defenders have to clear the zone with control of the puck. With situations over a 3 on 3 I would move the resting players back to the far blue line. Left handed player in black sweats and hat is Dany Heatley just after he won NHL Rookie of the Year.

Description:1. Players line up within a stick length of the red line if you have 2 groups or only ½ ice; otherwise behind the red or far blue line.2. Three players attack three defenders.3. Defenders must carry the puck out of the zone before passing to team waiting team mates.4. Three new players attack vs the original offensive players. 5. Keep score, implement skill (only forehand passes) or team play rules (goals originate from below the goal line).

Key Points:Forwards cover D and D cover F's. One D should join the attack to create triangles. Defenders play tight gaps and attackers create 2 on 1's on the rush.

Description:1. Forwards line up on one side and defense on the other.2. Start with a 2 on 2 attack F1 and F2 vs D1 and D2.3. When the puck enters the zone defensive F1 and F2 support D and attacking team D1 and D2 support F's.4. Play 4 on 4 in the zone.5. If the puck is dumped out with no possession the offensive team regroup and attack again.6. The supporting players who joined the play now go 2 on 2 in the other direction.7. F2 - F3 support D1 and D2 and D3 and D4 support attacking F1 and F2.

Key Points:Mike Johnston demonstrates a quick 3 on 3 transition game. It is similar to the Perry Pearn game but the emphasis is on quick transition and the offside rule and gaining the blue line first isn't stressed. This rotation can be used from 1-1, 1-2, 2-2. 3-2, 2-3 3-3, 4-3, 3-4, 4o-5, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5 to practice team play, especially if you have 15 or less skaters.

Mike explains the benefits of using transition games and suggests that only two colours be used at practice to enable more game like drills and games. Put half the D and half the F in one colour each. You can have more than two groups per team.

Description:1. Players line up behind the red line with the defending team at the front of the line. Use two colours, i.e. white and blue.2. Three whites attack vs. Three blue defenders.3. After a goal, a puck frozen by the goalie or the defense gains possession pass to blue team mates at the red line.4. Original white attackers defend vs the three new blue players and the original three blue defenders rest at the back of the line.

*This is a great rotation to practice team play.

The coach can change where the resting players line up and use the same rotation. The closer they are the quicker the transition, i.e. line up at the top of the circles. If the coach wants neutral zone play then move the line up back to the other end of the ice or behind the far blue line. Waiting at the red line allows the original attackers time to close the gap when they go onto defense.It all depends on what the coach is trying to accomplish in this transiton game rotation.